Synthesis and Optimization of low-cost and high efficient Zirconium-aluminium modified iron oxide nano adsorbent for fluoride removal from drinking water

Zirconium-aluminium modified iron oxide nano adsorbent was synthesized using chemical route using zirconyl nitrate, aluminium nitrate, ferric nitrate and triethanol amine. The precursor materials were calcined at 900oC for 4 h to obtain a carban free nano-adsorbent.  XRD of the calcined powder was performed to detect the phase and to estimate the crystallite size. Fluoride removal tests were performed using synthesized fluorinated aqueous solutions of 3 ppm, 5 ppm and 10 ppm. The adsorbent dose was considered 15 mints, 30 mints, 45 mints and 60 mints while adsorbent dose were varied from0.1 mg to 0.3 mg for every 100 ml fluorinated aqueous solution. FTIR spectroscopy of the nano-adsorbent was studied before and after fluoride removal. Percentage of fluoride removal was checked for at least three cycles using the same adsorbent. Fluoride concentration of treated aqueous solution was studied using UV-Visible spectrometer using standard zirconium alizarin S solution.  Maximum % of fluoride removal was observed up to 99.9% for an adsorbent dose 0.3 mg for a contact time of 15 minutes at 3 ppm fluoride concentration. However, the adsorbent dose for highest % of fluoride removal depends highly on the contact time and initial fluoride concentration and they were found to be very selective. The synthesized nano-sdsorbent could be used commercially for effective fluoride removal from fluorinated water for drinking purpose.              Copyright © 2017 VBRI Press.